Policy, Campaigns and Communications Lead

Care Rights UK is recruiting for a Policy, Campaigns and Communications Lead to join their small, welcoming and dedicated team. A varied role, the postholder will be at the heart of the organisation's influential work to raise awareness of quality care, push for new rights, and call for reform of the sector. Care Rights UK is the charity focused on promoting the rights of older people in care. The organisation wants the best quality of life for older people needing care and for people to know their rights, as well as how to use them. Offering information, advice and support to empower those using care services as well as their relatives and friends, the organisation challenges poor care, highlights good practice and demands a better care system. Courageous, independent and empowering, this is a truly special organisation undertaking work with real impact.

Contract: Permanent role offered on either a full or TP basis, 28 to 35 hours per week

Salary: £38,000 full time salary (£30,400 pro rata for 28 hours per week)

Location: Hybrid between home and the London office, or home based. If home based, travel will be necessary to office-based team meetings in London and training days as required.

Closing date for applications: 9am on Monday 22nd June

Interviews: Interviews will be held in late June or early July

As a member of the Care Rights UK team, you can expect:

• Friendly, welcoming, supportive colleagues in the staff team and on the Board of Trustees
• One-to-one support from an experienced, empathetic and friendly line manager
• Peer support from colleagues in the wider staff team
• Weekly team meetings to share advice insights, updates and impact
• A thorough induction to the charity, our work and mission
• Training to help you fulfil your role and to develop your knowledge of care issues across the UK
• Opportunities for sharing skills and knowledge with colleagues who are experts in their fields
• Being part of a dynamic team pushing for real change in the care sector
• Access to 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme - access to counselling, adviceline and other wellbeing support
• Hybrid working - the role can be carried out from anywhere in the UK, although attendance at face‑to‑face team meetings and training days will be required
• Flexible working - the organisation welcomes applications from candidates wishing to work 28‑35 hours per week and will consider job shares or other options such as compressed hours

As Policy, Campaign and Communications Lead you will work alongside the CEO and broader team to lead the charity's influencing and engagement output, and to ensure that policy, campaign and communications work align with the organisation's advice service, research and fundraising. A role that is both strategic and hands on, your core responsibilities will include:

• Lead the charity's communication and engagement work, including producing and coordinating communications outputs, managing the charity's social media accounts and implementing plans to increase supporter engagement
• Lead the charity's policy work, including monitoring and analysing relevant care policy in the UK to inform strategic development, drafting consultation responses, lobbying to achieve our strategic objectives
• Lead the charity's campaigns, including writing and implementing campaign plans, drafting campaign materials
• Develop relationships with politicians, Parliamentarians, policymakers and organisations, and act as a spokesperson for speaking and media requests
• Line manage the Operations Coordinator, including agreeing objectives and completing the annual appraisal process
• Work closely with team members to ensure policy, campaign and communication work aligns with advice service, research and fundraising, and assist with the delivery of marketing and fundraising strategies

We'd love to hear from individuals with the following core skills and experience:

• Experience in a policy, campaign or communication role (paid or unpaid)
• Knowledge and understanding of lobbying, campaigning, influencing techniques or supporter communications
• Knowledge or experience of the adult social care sector in the UK and policy areas, gained either within a professional capacity or via lived experience
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and ability to translate complex information into accessible content
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including diplomacy, persuasion, and ability to build positive working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders
• Strong organisational skills and ability to prioritise competing tasks and deliver to tight deadlines
• Experience of working independently, working on own initiative and maintaining motivation
• Experience of working effectively as a member of a small team and a positive, problem‑solving approach
• Commitment to Care Rights UK's vision, purpose and values
• Understanding of the value of involving people needing care and their families at all stages of the policy and campaigning process, to bring their voices to the heart of the debate

The following skills and experience are desirable, although not essential:

• Knowledge of the UK political landscape
• Experience of working with older people needing care or their relatives
• Experience of managing social media accounts on Facebook
• Experience of working for a small charity

We are an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all staff and applicants.